HSM IP LTD
HSM IP Attending INTA 2026 Annual Meeting in London
Our HSM IP team has landed in London and is gearing up to attend the International Trade Mark Association’s (INTA) Annual General Meeting from 2-6 May 2026. Meet Huw St.J. Moses OBE (Managing Partner), Mrinali Menon (Senior IP Manager), Shirly Read more +
HSM IP Named Caribbean Firm of the Year 2026 by Managing IP
HSM IP has been named Caribbean Firm of the Year at the Managing IP Awards 2026 Americas. This marks two years in a row that our firm has achieved this prestigious recognition, reflecting the strength of our intellectual property practice Read more +
HSM IP Contributes Cayman Trade Mark Chapter in ICLG 2026
HSM IP is pleased to have contributed once again to the International Comparative Legal Guide (ICLG) to Trade Marks. Click here to read our Cayman Islands chapter in the 15th edition of the guide, authored by Huw Moses, Mrinali Menon Read more +
From Goods to Goods AND Service Marks: Bahamas Expands Trade Mark Protection
Good news for brand owners seeking to protect their service marks in Bahamas, as the Registrar General’s Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has begun to allow applications to register marks for services. In 2025, the Bahamas Government took Read more +
IP Reform Enactment Imminent for Bermuda
As reported by HSM IP, Intellectual Property (IP) reform is in the pipeline in Bermuda, with the Government of Bermuda’s Registry General sharing recently that the enactment of its updated Trade Marks Law is anticipated later in 2024. UPDATE: HSM IP was notified on 10 September 2024 that this new trade mark legislation is due to come into effect on 1 January 2025. However, the legislation pertaining to patents is yet to be completed.
The Registry plans to update and disseminate Practice Notes to guide IP practitioners through the transition from current to new provisions.
Such guidance is likely to be welcomed by practitioners given that Bermuda’s current trade mark laws were originally enacted nearly 50 years ago, as well as the fact that the new provisions governing the validity terms of trade mark registrations is being adjusted to bring Bermuda in line with the UK and other major global jurisdictions: Bermuda’s trade mark registration and renewal periods are to be amended to cover 10-year terms, while the current registration period is seven years and renewal period 14 years.
While the new trade marks legislation received Royal Assent in late 2023, a date for the enactment is yet to be fixed, but is being eagerly anticipated by both brand owners and IP practitioners alike.
The Government’s objective in updating the legislation governing not just trade marks, but also patents, registered designs and copyrights, is to ally Bermuda’s IP legislation more closely with UK and global standards and best practices, allowing it to better compete for business.
With regard to Bermuda’s patent legislation, work is already underway to modernise the law and it will likely follow a similar course to that of the trade marks legislation.
The last update to Bermuda’s intellectual property laws occurred for the Copyrights and Designs Act, 2004. However, updates are still needed to enhance the regime, including the ability to voluntarily register copyright ownership.
HSM IP is monitoring developments and look forward to updating clients further in due course.
Click here to read HSM IP’s current Bermuda trade mark guide.